v. wheezed, wheez·ing, wheez·es v.intr. 1. To breathe with difficulty, producing a hoarse whistling sound. 2. To make a sound resembling laborious breathing. v.tr. To produce or utter with a hoarse whistling sound: The old locomotive wheezed steam. n. 1. A wheezing sound. 2. Informal An old joke. 3. Chiefly British A clever scheme. [Middle English whesen, probably from Old Norse hvæsa, to hiss; see kwes- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] wheezer n. wheezing·ly adv. |
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